From loneliness to collaboration: virtual patient unites dentists

This new episode of IDI Evolution's Dentechstry podcast, " From Solitude to Collaboration: The Virtual Patient Unites Dentists ," revolves around the topic of integrating digital technologies into dentistry .

The protagonist is Matteo Sartori , a dentist with over 25 years of experience, who talks about his vision of the importance of teamwork, of collaboration between professionals through digital tools that allow the creation of a "virtual patient" to improve the care of the real patient.

Sartori emphasizes how sharing clinical data in a secure format allows for a multidisciplinary assessment of the patient, promoting personalized, quality care. Through tools such as digital medical records and advanced platforms (e.g., Alfred by IDI Evolution ), professionals can manage information comprehensively and accessiblely, ensuring a comprehensive view of the patient's needs and improving communication with colleagues.

Sartori describes dentistry's transition from an analog approach, based on paper medical records and manually developed x-rays, to a digital ecosystem where communication between professionals is facilitated by secure platforms and "virtual patient" management becomes the center of teamwork . Through these new technologies, he notes, clinical information can be shared quickly and securely, allowing various specialists to collaborate on a single case, thus improving the effectiveness of treatments.

For Sartori, the value of sharing information is seen not only as a benefit for the patient, but also as an existential aid for the dentist himself. He says, dentists often experience isolation—a loneliness that can be physical, as when working alone in small practices, or intellectual, due to a lack of exchange and interaction with colleagues. This isolation, Sartori emphasizes, can also impact the mental health of professionals and their enthusiasm for their work. To explain this, he cites the work of Dr. Debora Stranieri , a psychotherapist from Padua.

Working in a team can therefore be the solution , but more than the what , in this case the how is fundamental. It is done, he emphasizes, noting how digital collaboration can become a "cure" for both the patient and the dentist , providing opportunities for discussion and support. However, Sartori also highlights a risk associated with discussion groups on social media to bridge this isolation: the excess of "confirmation bubbles," or environments for discussion limited to similar opinions, which reduce the possibility of real growth. True professional enrichment, according to Sartori, comes from interacting with diverse perspectives and comparing the experiences of other experts in the field, in compliance with scientific guidelines and a solid evidence base.

The episode concludes by highlighting how the virtual patient, made up of remotely accessible data and 3D models, represents the future of the profession. It's a way to break down physical barriers, improve teamwork, ensure more precise and comprehensive care, and also allow patients to understand the treatment and how much the dentist is doing for their health.

You can listen to the ninth episode of Dentechstry on Spotify , Apple Music and Amazon Music.